Blackwomenwrite Stories

Noire Innes had spent eighteen months learning how to build a life from what grief had left behind. At thirty-five, she was raising her late sister's two teenagers, working more than she could comfortably handle, and pretending that managing was close enough to being okay. Then an unexpected rental opportunity offered something she desperately needed: space, privacy, and a chance to begin again. Stillwater Estate seemed almost too perfect. The property was secluded, beautiful, fully automated, and priced low enough to make the decision difficult to refuse. The house came with its own caretaker couple, a separate guest house, and a history that seemed strangely difficult to verify. None of it felt dangerous. Not at first. Sable noticed the inconsistencies before anyone else did. Kael noticed the places he had been told not to go. Noire noticed the people who smiled without looking comfortable. And somewhere beneath the ordinary sounds of a house settling into summer, something seemed to be listening. Stillwater had been designed to feel private. It had been built around silence, controlled access, hidden spaces, and systems no one thought to question until those systems stopped behaving the way they should. What began as a family's attempt to escape the weight of the past slowly became something far more unsettling. The closer they came to understanding the estate, the less certain they became about who had truly invited them there. The Circular Staircase was a slow-burn psychological mystery and family thriller about grief, trust, hidden power, and the danger of mistaking control for safety. Some houses kept memories. Stillwater kept secrets. ©️ _RelleLebby_

"Good Enough" is a raw and unapologetic spoken word piece that dives deep into the struggle of identity, self-worth, and survival in a world that still places labels, stereotypes, and barriers on Black lives. Through powerful repetition and unfiltered honesty, the poem captures the weight of depression, the silence of invisibility, and the ever-present question: When will I be seen as enough? This piece weaves together the personal battle of inner darkness with the collective reality of systemic injustice, shining light on the pain of being overlooked, underestimated, and dehumanized. It is both a cry for recognition and a mirror held up to society's ongoing failures. More than just words, "Good Enough" is a testimony-an emotional journey that gives voice to the unheard, honors the resilience of the oppressed, and demands reflection from those who listen.

This piece is a journey through heartbreak, betrayal, and loneliness - ending in the unshakable reminder of God's promise. It captures the pain of searching for peace and identity in a broken world, while affirming the courage found in faith: that even when abandoned by people, you are never forsaken by God.

"Enslaved to Silence" is a spoken word poem that explores the struggle of being trapped inside your own mind - bound by thoughts, silence, and inner echoes that feel like chains. Through imagery of confinement and darkness, it captures the desperation of searching for peace. Yet it transforms into a declaration of freedom, reminding us that liberation begins within: peace is not always found, but made.

"Becoming" is a spoken word poem about resilience, identity, and self-discovery as a young Black woman. It reflects the struggle of rising above stereotypes, labels, and doubt, while reclaiming power in the face of pain and silence. This piece is both a personal declaration and a universal reminder that no one's words or limits can define you - because you are always in the process of becoming.